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Recent rumors and gossip about NFLen-usDrew Brees reportedly to demand less than Jimmy Garoppolo on new dealThe New Orleans Saints and future Hall of Fame quarterback Drew Brees will have to work out a new contract before the start of free agency. Should that not happen, Brees will become an unrestricted free agent next month.There’s no expectation that Brees will move on to another team. Both the Saints’ brass and the quarterback himself have said he’ll return next season.Now, according to NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport, Brees and the Saints are expected to talk about a short-term deal during the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis next week. More than that, the Pro Bowler is expected to demand between $20 and $25 million annually, a number that would come in lower than what Jimmy Garoppolo received from the San Francisco 49ers earlier in the month.“Is Brees going to break the bank as he did previously? Probably not,” Rapoport reported. “I know the Saints certainly do not see him eclipsing even really what he had last time. … It’s really about finding the sweet spot somewhere in the low-to-mid twenties to extend him, b22 Feb 2018 01:43:41 -0500http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles/drew_brees_reportedly_to_demand_less_than_jimmy_garoppolo_on_new_deal/s1_12680_25769741
http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles/drew_brees_reportedly_to_demand_less_than_jimmy_garoppolo_on_new_deal/s1_12680_25769741Drew Brees reportedly to demand less than Jimmy Garoppolo on new dealhttp://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles/drew_brees_reportedly_to_demand_less_than_jimmy_garoppolo_on_new_deal/s1_12680_25769741http://www.yardbarker.com/media/0/6/067f5823130b71751633181f023b222ac2ff36e7/top_story/10586374.jpgPolian changes stance on Manziel: ‘Cleveland got what they deserved’Former NFL general manager-turned-talking head Bill Polian has been offering up a treasure trove of hot takes this week. And in his most recent one, Polian engaged in a bit of revisionist history by completely contradicting what he originally thought of Johnny Manziel.In essence, Polian argued on Tuesday that the Browns “got what they deserved” by using the 22nd pick in the 2014 NFL Draft to select Manziel, whom Polian now argues had too many red flags. “Cleveland got what they deserved,” Polian said, via Pro Football Talk. “When people did their homework on Johnny Manziel, as everybody will on Baker Mayfield, they were well aware that Johnny had problems that might affect his playing in the National Football League. And Cleveland ignored it. So they got what they deserved.” As noted in the above tweet, Polian’s current take on Manziel stands in stark contrast to what he had to say in 2014 when he argued Cleveland “owes” it to their fans to draft the quarterback. Not only that, Polian argued then that Manziel21 Feb 2018 12:43:39 -0500http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles/bill_polian_changes_stance_on_johnny_manziel_cleveland_got_what_they_deserved/s1_8061_25766120
http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles/bill_polian_changes_stance_on_johnny_manziel_cleveland_got_what_they_deserved/s1_8061_25766120Polian changes stance on Manziel: ‘Cleveland got what they deserved’http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles/bill_polian_changes_stance_on_johnny_manziel_cleveland_got_what_they_deserved/s1_8061_25766120http://www.yardbarker.com/media/5/a/5a79723210dd165526d5a62e63671984b8c2344a/top_story/USATSI_8900108.jpgDolphins still shopping Jarvis Landry?When the Dolphins slapped Jarvis Landry with the franchise tag earlier this evening, it was assumed that the wideout would remain with the organization through at least the 2018 season. However, Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com says the receiver could be shipped out in a trade as early as this offseason. A league source told Florio that the “quick tag” can be attributed to the team’s desire to trade Landry. A deal couldn’t be completed until Landry signs his tender, and Florio believes a trade would be unlikely unless the wideout agrees to a long-term contract with his new squad. Either way, a trade wouldn’t be completely unexpected, as there were whispers that the Dolphins were shopping Landry prior to last season’s trade deadline.After the two sides failed to make any progress following months of negotiations, the Dolphins surprisingly franchised Landry earlier this evening. The one-year tender is estimated to be worth approximately $16.23MM, which should satisfy the wideout for the time being. Landry’s c21 Feb 2018 12:24:18 -0500http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles/dolphins_still_shopping_wr_jarvis_landry/s1_14819_25761539
http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles/dolphins_still_shopping_wr_jarvis_landry/s1_14819_25761539Dolphins still shopping Jarvis Landry?http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles/dolphins_still_shopping_wr_jarvis_landry/s1_14819_25761539http://www.yardbarker.com/media/a/d/ad8ad8b0f0a3d9baee176768c0a538a4a926380e/top_story/10349034.jpgSaints owner Tom Benson hospitalized with flu-like symptomsNew Orleans Saints and New Orleans Pelicans owner Tom Benson was hospitalized this week and treated for flu-like symptoms, but he is said to be resting comfortably.The Saints issued a statement on Wednesday updating the health of Benson, who is 90.“Saints and Pelicans Owner Tom Benson was recently admitted to Ochsner Medical Center. He is currently being treated for flu symptoms and is resting comfortably,” the statement said. “Mr. Benson, who turned 90 in July, has been admitted into the Intensive Care Unit and is receiving the standard, excellent and world-class care that all patients who enter Ochsner Medical Center receive. Mrs. Benson requests and sincerely appreciates your thoughts and prayers.Benson has owned the Saints since 1985 and the Pelicans since 2012. He has been embraced by the community in New Orleans after he purchased the Saints amid rumors that the team could be moved to Jacksonville.21 Feb 2018 12:31:14 -0500http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles/saints_owner_tom_benson_hospitalized_with_flu_like_symptoms/s1_127_25765967
http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles/saints_owner_tom_benson_hospitalized_with_flu_like_symptoms/s1_127_25765967Saints owner Tom Benson hospitalized with flu-like symptomshttp://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles/saints_owner_tom_benson_hospitalized_with_flu_like_symptoms/s1_127_25765967http://www.yardbarker.com/media/c/2/c259db3f85975ce292bcb64c20243181d244be85/top_story/10287184.jpgAndrew Luck: Surgery 'is not an option for me right now'The health of Andrew Luck remains something of a mystery. But speaking about the health of his shoulder, the Indianapolis Colts’ quarterback made it clear that he’s not planning on going under the knife. This would seem to fall in line with recent reports.On Tuesday, coach Frank Reich expressed doubt that Luck will be ready for OTAs. But another recent report has suggested that he’ll be ready for training camp in the summer.Certainly, Luck not having additional surgery is welcome news for the Colts and their fans.Luck last played in 2016. Then, he completed 63.5 percent of his passes for 4,240 yards with 31 touchdowns, 13 interceptions, and a 96.4 passer rating.20 Feb 2018 23:28:16 -0500http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles/andrew_luck_surgery_39is_not_an_option_for_me_right_now_39/s1_12680_25760534
http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles/andrew_luck_surgery_39is_not_an_option_for_me_right_now_39/s1_12680_25760534Andrew Luck: Surgery 'is not an option for me right now'http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles/andrew_luck_surgery_39is_not_an_option_for_me_right_now_39/s1_12680_25760534http://www.yardbarker.com/media/f/8/f8dd17e4c84fbd2f26f572f819258d1499d63932/top_story/9767642.jpgReport: Jets could pay Kirk Cousins $60 million in 2018Talk about the New York Jets going all in for impending free agent Kirk Cousins have ramped up in recent days. In fact, one report this past weekend suggested that New York could offer Cousins a fully guaranteed multi-year contract. That would change the entire dynamic of NFL free agency as we know it.With what could be nearly $100 million in cap room following some roster moves, New York surely has the financial means to sign Cousins as its franchise quarterback.Now comes this report from Brian Costello of the New York Post suggesting that the Jets could offer Cousins a front loaded contract worth $60 million in 2018.“One league source speculated the Jets could front-load the contract and offer Cousins $60 million guaranteed in the first year of the contract,” Costello reported. “That would still leave them with about $30 million in cap space this year and then allow them to build around Cousins with lower cap figures in the remaining years of the contract.”This could be similar to the contract San Francisco20 Feb 2018 12:06:30 -0500http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles/report_jets_could_pay_kirk_cousins_60_million_in_2018/s1_12680_25756385
http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles/report_jets_could_pay_kirk_cousins_60_million_in_2018/s1_12680_25756385Report: Jets could pay Kirk Cousins $60 million in 2018http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles/report_jets_could_pay_kirk_cousins_60_million_in_2018/s1_12680_25756385http://www.yardbarker.com/media/6/f/6fe1eb79fe30f857b76ec352e186f8e0b6298076/top_story/10272953.jpgDoug Martin released by BuccaneersThe Tampa Bay Buccaneers are moving on from Doug Martin after the running back’s tumultuous 2017 season.According to Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times, the Bucs informed Martin on Tuesday that he has been released. The move will save them $6.75 million against the salary cap heading into the 2018 season. Martin, 29, finished the 2017 season with just 406 rushing yards and three touchdowns. He missed five games after he served a suspension and violated a team rule upon his return. Peyton Barber led the team with 423 rushing yards, and you can expect Tampa to address the running back position in the draft and/or free agency.20 Feb 2018 12:04:40 -0500http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles/doug_martin_released_by_buccaneers/s1_127_25756178
http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles/doug_martin_released_by_buccaneers/s1_127_25756178Doug Martin released by Buccaneershttp://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles/doug_martin_released_by_buccaneers/s1_127_25756178http://www.yardbarker.com/media/f/8/f8a8788c28d93887453865b35d267630c8db9d97/top_story/USATSI_10377494.jpgReport: Dolphins to meet with Baker Mayfield in MarchWe are going to see a ton of reports of teams meeting with potential draft picks here in the next couple months. Some of the interest will be genuine. Others will be simply to put other teams on notice in case of a potential draft-day trade.There’s no way to tell whether the Miami Dolphins are actually interested in drafting reigning Heisman winner Baker Mayfield. But the team did meet with him during Senior Bowl week. It now has reportedly scheduled another meeting for March.“Beyond spending alone time with Mayfield at last month’s Senior Bowl, the Dolphins have made plans to have dinner with him the night before they — and other teams — evaluate him at Oklahoma’s Pro Day on March 14,” Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald notes.Picking 11th overall, it’s highly likely that Mayfield will be available when Miami is on the clock in the first round of April’s draft. And while the team has already committed to Ryan Tannehill as its starting quarterback next season, he’s coming off two ACL scares and missed the entir20 Feb 2018 11:33:09 -0500http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles/report_dolphins_to_meet_with_baker_mayfield_in_march/s1_12680_25756187
http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles/report_dolphins_to_meet_with_baker_mayfield_in_march/s1_12680_25756187Report: Dolphins to meet with Baker Mayfield in Marchhttp://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles/report_dolphins_to_meet_with_baker_mayfield_in_march/s1_12680_25756187http://www.yardbarker.com/media/b/d/bdd373f0a411094f2e712678b5102e6189b5718d/top_story/10562635.jpgReport: Kirk Cousins won't sign long-term with new team if tagged and tradedThe Washington Redskins can technically prevent Kirk Cousins from hitting free agency if they use the franchise tag on him for a third consecutive season, but they do not have as much leverage over the quarterback as you may think.Ian Rapoport of NFL Network said Monday that the Redskins tagging Cousins again is “simply not going to happen.” One reason for that is that his guaranteed salary for 2018 would be around $34 million, which is an enormous chunk of the salary cap. Perhaps more importantly, Cousins would not be willing to negotiate a long-term extension with any team if Washington tried to tag and trade him. In other words, Cousins has all the leverage. Typically, teams can just turn around and say they will keep the player in these types of situations, but now that the Redskins have traded for Alex Smith, that is off the table. They simply can’t pay Cousins $34 million, and they would risk getting stuck with him if he refused to sign the tag or no team wanted to trade for him without a long-term deal19 Feb 2018 16:39:19 -0500http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles/report_kirk_cousins_would_not_sign_long_term_with_new_team_if_tagged_and_traded/s1_127_25750313
http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles/report_kirk_cousins_would_not_sign_long_term_with_new_team_if_tagged_and_traded/s1_127_25750313Report: Kirk Cousins won't sign long-term with new team if tagged and tradedhttp://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles/report_kirk_cousins_would_not_sign_long_term_with_new_team_if_tagged_and_traded/s1_127_25750313http://www.yardbarker.com/media/d/6/d61d19e963936ad761771c1b8178c73e04f07b94/top_story/10305533.jpgPolian: Lamar Jackson 'short' and 'slight,' needs to be a WRHall of Famer Bill Polian, who built the Indianapolis Colts around Peyton Manning, doesn’t have high hopes for Lamar Jackson as an NFL quarterback.Speaking about Jackson during a segment on ESPN, Polian said Jackson doesn’t have the frame or raw passing ability to become a successful NFL passer.“Short and a little bit slight,” Polian said of Jackson. “Clearly, clearly not the thrower that the other guys are. The accuracy isn’t there.”Polian’s comment about Jackson being short seems…short on substance. After all, we’re talking about a kid who’s listed as being 6-foot-3, and he’ll likely weigh in around 220 pounds or more at the NFL Scouting Combine later this month.And in terms of “raw passing ability,” we’re really not sure what in the heck Polian is talking about. Here’s a prime example of the unbelievable talent this young man possesses, and that’s just scratching the surface.All you need to know about what this scribe thinks about Jackson can be seen here. He’s a rare talent who has a chance to have a Cam 19 Feb 2018 15:06:08 -0500http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles/bill_polian_lamar_jackson_8216short_8217_and_8216slight_8217_needs_to_be_wr/s1_12680_25749551
http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles/bill_polian_lamar_jackson_8216short_8217_and_8216slight_8217_needs_to_be_wr/s1_12680_25749551Polian: Lamar Jackson 'short' and 'slight,' needs to be a WRhttp://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles/bill_polian_lamar_jackson_8216short_8217_and_8216slight_8217_needs_to_be_wr/s1_12680_25749551http://www.yardbarker.com/media/9/d/9d30ddf922289bd613a44aefcf11b0be0dba5c19/top_story/10506070.jpgBaker Mayfield will not attend 2018 NFL DraftBaker Mayfield might hear his name called early in the upcoming 2018 NFL Draft, but he won’t be walking up to the podium when he does.The Oklahoma product told Newy Scruggs he’s opting not to attend the draft at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. This is an interesting, though not totally unconventional decision. We’ve seen other high-profile prospects opt to spend time with family and friends, rather than endure the spectacle that is the NFL draft.It’s really not hard to blame those who do make this choice, especially a guy like Mayfield, who certainly could see a draft-day slide. There is no consensus about what he’ll become as a pro. His college stats and tape show us a guy who has Russell Wilson and Drew Brees capabilities. But his character issues — Mayfield is sometimes compared to Johnny Manziel — and short stature could certainly cause him to fall into late Round 1 or even into Round 2.With that in mind, Mayfield is making a smart choice. He can enjoy his draft experience away from the green room a19 Feb 2018 20:03:31 -0500http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles/baker_mayfield_will_not_attend_2018_nfl_draft/s1_12680_25751684
http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles/baker_mayfield_will_not_attend_2018_nfl_draft/s1_12680_25751684Baker Mayfield will not attend 2018 NFL Drafthttp://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles/baker_mayfield_will_not_attend_2018_nfl_draft/s1_12680_25751684http://www.yardbarker.com/media/1/f/1f9847b2a57ef29e0bb60883264a1e43a2a60635/top_story/10469128.jpgFavre on his future: ‘Tomorrow I may not remember who I am’Football is a dangerous game. Brett Favre knows all about that. Over the course of a 20-year career, Favre got hit. A LOT. In all, he would take 525 sacks. He would play through countless injuries. Given all this, he knows that tomorrow is uncertain. In fact, he doesn’t know what tomorrow may hold.“I’m able to function the way I so choose, at least up to this point. I stay active. … Tomorrow may be totally different. Tomorrow I may not remember who I am, I may not know where I live, and that’s the frightening thing for us football players.”But what about the future of football? What about his grandchildren? Favre knows that with his name comes a legacy. But he’s in no rush to see them play the game he spent decades playing.“I’m not going to encourage him to play football. I’m not saying I would discourage him, but I would be cringing every time I saw my grandson get tackled, because I know, physically, what’s at stake.”His oldest grandchild, who is eight years old, is still very much a child. But Favre knows 19 Feb 2018 17:20:39 -0500http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles/favre_on_his_future_tomorrow_i_may_not_remember_who_i_am/s1_11773_25748513
http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles/favre_on_his_future_tomorrow_i_may_not_remember_who_i_am/s1_11773_25748513Favre on his future: ‘Tomorrow I may not remember who I am’http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles/favre_on_his_future_tomorrow_i_may_not_remember_who_i_am/s1_11773_25748513http://www.yardbarker.com/media/d/e/dea1ea0a864254f9fc8fe3ea0db040de0c4acde7/top_story/9428610.jpgTeddy Bridgewater calls 2017 ‘my favorite season by far’Teddy Bridgewater recently stated that 2017 was his “favorite season by far,” something that would seem counter-intuitive given the quarterback’s severe dearth of playing time.Bridgewater’s lack of time on the field last season of course was due to his ongoing recovery from a traumatic knee injury suffered ahead of the 2016 NFL season. The injury was so severe that not only was Bridgewater’s career in jeopardy, reports suggested he could have lost his leg. The 25-year-old signal-caller did see limited action last season after the Vikings activated him to the active roster, only making one inspirational appearance in mop-up duty while relieving Case Keenum in a blowout victory over the Cincinnati Bengals in December.Still, the fact alone that Bridgewater, who declared himself completely healthy earlier this month, saw any action at all in the wake of his catastrophic injury clearly made a huge impact on the him.“It was probably my favorite season by far, even though I didn’t play much,” Bridgewater told ESPN. 19 Feb 2018 11:01:57 -0500http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles/teddy_bridgewater_calls_2017_my_favorite_season_by_far/s1_8061_25747277
http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles/teddy_bridgewater_calls_2017_my_favorite_season_by_far/s1_8061_25747277Teddy Bridgewater calls 2017 ‘my favorite season by far’http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles/teddy_bridgewater_calls_2017_my_favorite_season_by_far/s1_8061_25747277http://www.yardbarker.com/media/7/9/7935c808b5757b64661afe06eafa98afb7147c90/top_story/USATSI_10546896.jpgNFL teams wondering if Marcus Peters will be tradedIt seems pretty far-fetched that the Kansas City Chiefs would be looking to trade cornerback Marcus Peters, but according to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk some people around the NFL are wondering if that’s the case.The reason this question is emerging stems from the fact that Kansas City will soon have Kyle Fuller on the roster thanks to the trade that will send Alex Smith to Washington. Furthermore, the Chiefs inked former Oakland Raiders cornerback David Amerson to a one-year deal, leading some to wonder if Peters has become expendable in Kansas City, per Florio.“…some in league circles are wondering whether the Chiefs will be making another transaction involving a cornerback,” Florio wrote. “The question being asked is whether Marcus Peters, a first-round pick in 2015, is available in trade.”The thing is, Kansas City’s defense was abominable against the pass last year, despite featuring Peters, who is one of the best corners in the NFL. The Chiefs ranked 29th in the league allowing 247 passing yards per18 Feb 2018 22:30:19 -0500http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles/report_8216some_in_league_circles_8217_wondering_if_marcus_peters_is_available_for_trade/s1_12680_25738073
http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles/report_8216some_in_league_circles_8217_wondering_if_marcus_peters_is_available_for_trade/s1_12680_25738073NFL teams wondering if Marcus Peters will be tradedhttp://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles/report_8216some_in_league_circles_8217_wondering_if_marcus_peters_is_available_for_trade/s1_12680_25738073http://www.yardbarker.com/media/a/2/a25e26efc8e8817b0fcdde48cbfc40c3e3610c0f/top_story/10502733.jpgVikings expected to be in the mix for AJ McCarronAJ McCarron has never been a starting quarterback in the NFL, but the 27-year-old is expected to be pursued like one now that he has won his grievance against the Bengals and will become a free agent. Several teams are expected to have interest in McCarron, including one that has some tough decisions to make with its own quarterbacks.Charley Walters of the St. Paul Pioneer Press expects the Vikings to have interest in McCarron if they choose to let Case Keenum walk in free agency. Minnesota is not expected to bring back Sam Bradford, and Teddy Bridgewater is also set to become a free agent. While Keenum led the Vikings to the NFC Championship Game and played extremely well in 2017, Bridgewater seems like the most likely of the three to be back.We already know of at least a few teams that are in a need of a starting quarterback, so McCarron has no reason to sign with any team that already has a No. 1 guy. If Minnesota brings back Keenum or Bridgewater, the former Alabama star probably wouldn’t be interested.18 Feb 2018 18:05:31 -0500http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles/vikings_expected_to_be_in_the_mix_for_aj_mccarron/s1_127_25742282
http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles/vikings_expected_to_be_in_the_mix_for_aj_mccarron/s1_127_25742282Vikings expected to be in the mix for AJ McCarronhttp://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles/vikings_expected_to_be_in_the_mix_for_aj_mccarron/s1_127_25742282http://www.yardbarker.com/media/9/c/9c6d07b9e13f16b18bcc14d4de51f65a87c879a3/top_story/10279814.jpg